By Patrick Donachie
A St. Albans woman was charged by the Manhattan district attorney’s office with fatally pushing another woman in front of a subway train at Times Square Monday, according to Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance.
Melanie Liverpool, 30, was charged with murder in the second degree, he said. The criminal complaint filed by the DA said Liverpool was observed by two witnesses pushing a woman in front of an oncoming 1 train at 42nd Street station at Times Square. The woman was found dead under the train by EMS workers and NYPD officers.
The victim was identified as Connie Watton, 49, who lives in Long Island City, according to the NYPD. The incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m., and Liverpool was arrested at the scene.
The New York Post reported that Watton was the housekeeper of Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwartzman. Watton worked for the family for 30 years, and Schwartzman’s daughter Zibby said she was conscientious and caring, often looking after the children in the family. Schwartzman said that she considered Watton to be part of the family.
“I guess, intellectually, you know things like this happen but to someone so close who is part of the fabric of every single day of your life and for something so senseless and so random, it makes me want to pack my bags and get out of New York,” she said to the Post. “She was a part of every holiday. She was just a part of every piece of life since I was nine years old.”
The Post also reported that police did not suspect that Watton and Liverpool interacted before Liverpool allegedly pushed Watton, and police sources were cited as saying that Liverpool may suffer from schizophrenia or mental illness.
Liverpool was remanded without bail at the request of Assistant District Attorney Michelle Warren, and her next court date was scheduled for yesterday. The Post reported that Matthew Mari, Liverpool’s defense attorney, said she previously worked as a home aide and has no prior convictions.
NYPD sources said Liverpool had lied about pushing a woman in front of a subway train who allegedly committed suicide on Oct. 19, according to the Post. The 19-year college student allegedly jumped in front of a train at Union Square, and Liverpool was held for a psychiatric examination after she claimed she pushed the student. This previous incident was under investigation in the aftermath of the Watton murder, according to the NYPD.
Liverpool lives on Linden Boulevard in St. Albans, according to the NYPD.
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
